Water Filtration at Home: Better Alternative to Bottled Water

Water is everywhere in Canada. Canada has 1,169,561 square kilometers of freshwater alone – accounting for 11.7% of the country’s total area and yet one in five Canadians choose to drink bottled water over tap water.

According to Statistics Canada, 69% of Canadian households reported that they primarily drink tap water at home in 2015, while 19% reported that bottled water is their main type of drinking water at home.

Harmful Chemicals in Tap Water

Fear of tap water is one of the reasons why Canadians turn to bottled water; this fear isn’t misplaced.

According to Health Canada, tap water can be broken into three parts: 1) source of water; 2) drinking water system; and 3) distribution system which carries the treated water to your home.

“As drinking water travels on its journey to you, it can become contaminated in many ways,” Health Canada said.

Here are some of the harmful chemicals that may contaminate your tap water:

Lead

Lead is a soft metal that has a low melting point and resists corrosion. Because of these characteristics, lead has been used sizably since the Roman times and has since become widely distributed in the environment.

In terms of drinking water, lead comes into play as it was used in drinking water systems since ancient Rome; lead was used to make water pipes.

The National Plumbing Code of Canada prohibits the use of lead in pipes in 1975 and as solder in water distribution systems in 1986. According to Health Canada, while the prohibition was in place decades ago, many drinking water systems in Canada “may still have some of these lead components in place today”.

Health Canada, the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health, noted that there’s little lead in natural water sources in Canada, as well as water coming out of the drinking water treatment plants.

The department said that the most significant sources of lead in tap water usually come from water pipes that link the house to the main water supply and from lead solder in plumbing, or from fittings such as faucets made of brass.

The department added that the amount of lead that goes into your tap water depends on many factors, including the age of the plumbing system, the length of time the water sits in the pipes and the chemistry of the water.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead is a toxic metal that affects multiple body systems, including the neurologic, hematologic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and renal systems.

“Children are particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of lead, and even relatively low levels of exposure can cause serious, and in some cases, irreversible neurological damage,” WHO said.

Health Canada said that lead toxicity can increase blood pressure and kidney dysfunction in adults, as well as adverse neurodevelopmental and behavioral effects in children, including reductions in intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in children.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)said that there’s no safe blood lead level in children. “Lead exposure can affect nearly every system in the body,” CDC said. “Because lead exposure often occurs with no obvious symptoms, it frequently goes unrecognized.”

Benzene

Benzene is another chemical that may be hidden in tap water. Natural sources of this chemical include volcanoes and forest fires. Other sources of this chemical include oil and gasoline. This chemical is also used to make plastics, resins, nylon, synthetic fibers, some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents and pesticides. Benzene mixes with drinking water through industrial effluents.

A person can be exposed to benzene by drinking contaminated drinking water and through both inhalation and skin absorption from showering and bathing.

According to Health Canada, benzene is a human carcinogen, which means that any level of exposure in drinking water may increase the risk of cancer.

WHOsaid that exposure to benzene has been associated with a range of acute and long-term adverse health effects and diseases, including aplastic anemia and cancer.

According to CDC, benzene causes cell dysfunction; for instance, it can cause bone marrow to not produce enough red blood cells, resulting in anemia. The CDC added that benzene can damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.

Lead and benzene are just two examples of harmful chemicals that may contaminate your tap water. Other chemicals that may be hidden in your tap water include the following:

Carbon Tetrachloride

Dichlorobenzene

Dichloroethane

Dichloroethene

Trichloroethane

Trichloroethylene

Vinyl Chloride

Dibromochloropropane

Ethylene Dibromide

Ethylbenzene

Pentachlorophenol

Styrene

Toluene

Dichloropropane

Dichloromethane

Dichlorobenzene

Hexachlorobenzene

Trichlorobenzene

Trichloroethane

Water Filtration System vs. Bottled Water

Lead, benzene and the above-mentioned harmful chemicals can be removed by using the Simply Pure Chemical Remover, a water filtration system fitted for home use. This water filtration system removes up to 99.9% of harmful chemicals in your tap water, eliminating your fear of drinking tap water.

A home filtration system also eliminates the cost of bottled water. According to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian household spent $41 on bottled water in 2015. Many Canadians, however, spend more than this amount on bottled water today.

Turning to bottled water isn’t a guarantee of getting harmful chemical-free drinking water. As shown in the test conducted by the researchers at the McGill’s Biocolloids and Surfaces Laboratory, 30 of the 50 bottled water tested (from Canada’s five leading brands of bottled water and purchased in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal) contained microplastics.

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimeters (5,000 microns) in length. The types of plastics found in the bottled water tested by the researchers include polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl acetate, nylon, rayon, polystyrene and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Contact ustoday, and start enjoying the health befits of clean water in your home, and protect your family.

3 Ways Hard Water Increases Your Household Expenses

As water travels through rocks and soils, it absorbs very small amounts of minerals like calcium and magnesium. This is how it becomes hard water.

These two minerals aren’t necessarily a problem. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers dissolved calcium and magnesium in water as essential to human health. Calcium, in particular, is good for our bones and teeth; while magnesium is credited for preventing muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat.

What is Hard Water

A higher than average volume of calcium and magnesium in water makes water “hard”. Other minerals aside from calcium and magnesium like iron also result to hard water. Water hardness can come from surface water – water that moves through rocks and soils, groundwater, inorganic chemical and mining industries. Surface water is generally softer than groundwater.

Water hardness is primarily the amount of magnesium and calcium in water. It’s computed by adding up the concentrations of magnesium and calcium, and converting this value to an equivalent concentration of calcium carbonate in milligrams per liter (mg/L) of water.

In the paper “Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality”, Health Canada categorizes waters with a calcium carbonate concentration less than 75 mg/L as “soft”; between 75 and 150 mg/L as “moderately hard”; between 150 and 300 mg/L as “hard”; and more than 300 mg/L as “very hard”.

Water Quality Association (WQA), meanwhile, categorizes less than 1 grains per gallon (gpg) and less than 17 per mg/L as “soft”; 1 to 3.5 gpg or 17.1 to 60 mg/L as “slightly hard”; 3.5 to 7 gpg or 60 to 120 mg/L as “moderately hard”; 7 to 10.5 gpg or 120 to 180 mg/L as “hard”; and more than 10.5 gpg or more than 180 mg/L as “very hard”. Click here to view the water hardness level in your city.

Hard water increases your household expenses in three ways:

1. Hard Water Results in Excessive Soap and Detergent Consumption

Traditionally, hardness in water is tested by using soap. If the soap lathers or foams easily, the water is considered as soft. If it takes some time for the soap to lather, then the water is considered as hard. Hardness of water is evident in our daily household tasks, from personal grooming, bathing, dishwashing and laundering. As hard water makes it difficult to form lather, this lessens the cleaning effect of soaps and detergents. Water hardness makes soaps and detergents less effective as hardness renders active ingredient in soaps and detergents partially inactivated.

The harder the water, the more soaps and detergents are needed to clean your hands, hair, body or for washing your dishes and laundry. Hard water also causes graying of white fabrics and the loss of brightness in colored fabrics. It can also shorten the lifespan of your clothes.

If you’ve ever used an electric kettle, chances are you’ve most likely spotted a limescale. It’s that stony, off-white crust covering the bottom of your electric kettle. This hard, off-white crust is also evident in your coffee maker and water heater.

When hard water is heated or left unattended, the dissolved minerals in it solidifies and forms a limescale – also known as calcium carbonate or simply scale – as the moisture evaporates. It can shrink the lifespan, lower the efficiency and raise the costs of heating water of water-using appliances. Limescale can also manifest through dry, itchy skin and scalp.

“Water quality is the single most important factor affecting the life of the water heater,” the Natural Resources Canada said in the paper “Water Heater Guide”.

According to the Natural Resources Canada, the average person in Canada uses 75 L of hot water per day and the average Canadian household uses 225 L. Hot water in Canadian homes are used mostly, according to the Natural Resources Canada for faucet use – food preparation and handwashing (34%), followed by shower (25%), bath (17%), clothes washer (15%), leak (5%) and dishwasher (4%).

A Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report found that local water quality is one of the factors that affects most significantly to the performance and longevity of water heating equipment. The report highlighted that highly alkaline water – rich in calcium, magnesium and other minerals – will lead to the accumulation of “scale”, which will impact the efficiency of water heaters’ storage and can lead to decreased equipment life.

“Increasing the lifetime of water heaters can improve the cost-effectiveness and increase the amount of savings achieved by an efficient water heater investment,” the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory report said.

3. Hard Water Clogs Pipes

Limescale can also develop on the inner walls of pipes where there’s hard water or water with high mineral content. As water travels through the pipes, calcium ions present in hard water react with the air inside to form limescale. The limescale buildup can slowly clog water pipes, resulting in lowering of water pressure and less water movement. Limescale inside your pipes may require an expensive pipe replacement.

How is Hard Water Treated

A New Mexico State University report found that preventing and reducing limescale buildup in appliances and pipes, households could achieve longer lifespan for their water-using appliances and pipes between 25 and 40 percent.

A water softener is a home water filtration system that removes up to 99.9% of harmful minerals in your household water. By installing a water softener in your home, you can enjoy the following benefits:

Save money on soaps and detergents;

For use fewer soaps and detergents, you help save the environment; and

Prolong the lifespan, increase efficiency and lowers the cost of your water-using appliances and pipes.

“Conditioning of water, including central softening and stabilization, may be necessary to reduce corrosion of piping materials and/or scaling effects in installations and to improve consumer acceptability,” WHO said. “Corrosion and scaling can be associated with adverse effects on health (from leachates such as lead) and the environment (from leachates such as copper if the water is not conditioned) and reduced lifespan of the distribution network and appliances using water.”

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Terms & ConditionsTerms & ConditionsYou contacted Simply Smart to invite them to your home to buy or lease at least one of the products selected (not for repair, an energy assessment, maintenance, or any other reason).

Google Home Mini Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction
These terms and conditions govern the Simply Smart Home Inc. (Simply Smart”, “we”, “us” and “our”) for in-home visit and installation of a Google Home Mini (the “Product”) at your home (the “Property”).
Google Home Mini is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one (1) Google Home Mini per primary residence will be installed.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice. The program is available while Products last and Simply Smart may terminate the program at any time in its sole discretion. This website may be terminated at any time in our sole discretion and we will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the website is unavailable at any time or for any period.
To participate in the program:
(i) you must be the legal age of majority in your province or territory of residence; (ii) you must be the lawful homeowner of a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse; and (iii) you must allow a representative of Simply Smart to come to your Property, during reasonable hours and upon prior notice to and consent by you to install a Product(s). (iv) you must have an active Enbridge account
You acknowledge and agree that your participation in the program is based on your assessment of the program and is not based on any reliance on anticipated or projected results.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully. By using this website, registering for the program and clicking below to accept these terms and conditions, you confirm your consent to, and agree to comply with and be bound by, these terms and conditions and our Privacy Policy and you represent and warrant that you meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements for the program.
2. In-Home Visit And Product(s) Installation
You authorize a representative of Simply Smart to enter your Property, during reasonable hours and upon prior notice to and consent by you. Product(s) installation and set-up requires a Wi-Fi network, Wi-Fi network password, a nearby electrical socket and a compatible mobile device to be available during the in-home visit.
2. Use of Product(s)
You are responsible for the use of the Product(s) in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and the Product(s)’s intended purpose. You understand that any improper use may result in injury or damage. Simply Smart is not the manufacturer and is not responsible for any warranties or service in respect of the Product(s).
Except as expressly set forth in these term and conditions, Simply Smart makes no representation or warranty, either written or oral, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Product(s) or its manufacturer, or with respect to the Product(s)’ adequacy, safety, workmanship, quality, legal compliance, fitness, accuracy, or suitability for any purpose, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, Simply Smart shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the installation or use of the Product(s).
If the Product(s) does not operate as indicated by the manufacturer or is unsatisfactory for any reason, you shall have no recourse against Simply Smart and Simply Smart shall have no obligation to replace the Product(s) (or any deficient part thereof) or remove the Product(s) from your Property.
4. Force Majeure.
Simply Smart shall not be liable for delays or failure to install the Product(s) or perform any obligations hereunder in the event of causes beyond Simply Smart’s control, whether or not such causes are provided for specifically herein, provided however that Simply Smart will notify you as soon as reasonably possible in the event of any delay in the installation of the Product(s) on your scheduled installation date.
5. Privacy.
Simply Smart is committed to protecting the personal information in its custody or control in accordance with applicable privacy laws. You may access or obtain a copy of Simply Smart’s Privacy Policy, which describes how we may collect, use and disclose information.
You acknowledge and agree that you will be required to agree to separate terms and conditions and privacy policies relating to the operation of your Product(s) once installed, including if you choose to register for the Nest mobile application on any device(s) connected to the Product(s).
6. Indemnification.
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Simply Smart, its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns and their respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees, service providers, agents, and representatives (the “Indemnitees”) from all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, costs, expenses, obligations and damages,
including reasonable legal fees, arising from or related to the in-home visit or the installation and use of the Product(s), whether such use is in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or otherwise, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, you hereby release the Indemnitees of, from and against any of the foregoing. This indemnification shall survive the termination of these terms and conditions and of the program.
7. Governing Law.
Except to the extent that the laws of the province or territory in which you reside require that the laws of such province or territory apply to these terms and conditions and the program offered herein, this website and these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision, principle or rule.

Nest Program Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction
These terms and conditions govern the Simply Smart Home Inc. (Simply Smart”, “we”, “us” and “our”) smart home program (the “Program”) for the smart home product in-home consultation and installation of a Nest E Thermostat (the “Nest Product”) at your home (the “Property”) at no cost to you.
The Nest Product is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one (1) Nest Product per primary residence will be installed.
These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without prior notice. The Program is available while Nest Products last and Simply Smart may terminate the Program at any time in its sole discretion. This website may be terminated at any time in our sole discretion and we will not be liable if for any reason all or any part of the website is unavailable at any time or for any period.
To participate in the Program:
(i) you must be the legal age of majority in your province or territory of residence; (ii) you must be the lawful homeowner of a single detached, semi-detached or townhouse; and (iii) you must allow a representative of Simply Smart to come to your Property, during reasonable hours and upon prior notice to and consent by you, to perform the smart home consultation and install the Nest Product; (iv) you must have an active Enbridge account.
You acknowledge and agree that your participation in the Program is based on your assessment of the Program and is not based on any reliance on anticipated or projected results.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully. By using this website, registering for the Program and clicking below to accept these terms and conditions, you confirm your consent to, and agree to comply with and be bound by, these terms and conditions and our Privacy Policy and you represent and warrant that you meet all of the foregoing eligibility requirements for the Program.

2. In-Home Consultation and Installation
You authorize a representative of Simply Smart to enter your Property, during reasonable hours and upon prior notice to and consent by you, for the purposes of: (i) the installation of the Nest Product at your Property; and (ii) the performance of an in-home smart home consultation, which will be a survey to assess solutions for your Property.

The smart home consultation will be performed in a prompt and timely manner by a Simply Smart representative. Information collected by us at the consultation will be used for future marketing purposes in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Your Property must be in suitable condition for the installation of the Nest Product, as such condition shall be determined by Simply Smart at its sole discretion in accordance with applicable standards and requirements for the installation of equipment of similar type. Specifically, Nest Thermostat E installations require proper wiring conditions. Should these conditions not be met during the initial appointment, Simply Smart is not obligated to attend again. Furthermore, Nest Thermostat E is only compatible with single stage system fans. Variable speed fans, high voltage forced air systems with fans, and proprietary systems with fan are not compatible with the Nest Thermostat E. This offer is only available to homes with proper 5 wire conditions or a common wire maker can be installed for an additional charge of $150.00.

Following the consultation, we will install the Nest Product at your Property. You acknowledge that you may be required to execute additional documents in order for Simply Smart to complete the installation of the Nest Product at your Property.

3. Use of Nest Product
You are responsible for the use of the Nest Product in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and the Nest Product’s intended purpose. You understand that any improper use may result in injury or damage. Simply Smart is not the manufacturer and is not responsible for any warranties or service in respect of the Nest Product.
Except as expressly set forth in these term and conditions, Simply Smart makes no representation or warranty, either written or oral, express or implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Nest Product or its manufacturer, or with respect to the Nest Product’s adequacy, safety, workmanship, quality, legal compliance, fitness, accuracy, or suitability for any purpose, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, Simply Smart shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the installation or use of the Nest Product.
If the Nest Product does not operate as indicated by the manufacturer or is unsatisfactory for any reason, you shall have no recourse against Simply Smart and Simply Smart shall have no obligation to replace the Nest Product (or any deficient part thereof) or remove the Nest Product from your Property.

4. Force Majeure.
Simply Smart shall not be liable for delays or failure to install the Nest Product or perform any obligations hereunder in the event of causes beyond Simply Smart’s control, whether or not such causes are provided for specifically herein, provided however that Simply Smart will notify you as soon as reasonably possible in the event of any delay in the installation of the Nest Product on your scheduled installation date.

5. Privacy.
Simply Smart is committed to protecting the personal information in its custody or control in accordance with applicable privacy laws. You may access or obtain a copy of Simply Smart’s Privacy Policy, which describes how we may collect, use and disclose information.
You acknowledge and agree that you will be required to agree to separate terms and conditions and privacy policies relating to the operation of your Nest Product once installed, including if you choose to register for the Nest mobile application on any device(s) connected to the Nest Product.

6. Indemnification.
You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Simply Smart, its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns and their respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees, service providers, agents, and representatives (the “Indemnitees”) from all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, costs, expenses, obligations and damages,
including reasonable legal fees, arising from or related to the in-home smart home consultation or the installation and use of the Nest Product, whether such use is in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or otherwise, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, you hereby release the Indemnitees of, from and against any of the foregoing. This indemnification shall survive the termination of these terms and conditions and of the Program.

7. Governing Law.
Except to the extent that the laws of the province or territory in which you reside require that the laws of such province or territory apply to these terms and conditions and the Program offered herein, this website and these terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision, principle or rule.